Kudos Rallies, Wins $400,000 Californian

Published 8:00 pm, Friday, June 13, 2003

Kudos, winless in three starts this year against the nation's top handicap horses, found the winner's circle Saturday in the $400,000 Californian.

Kudos rallied from last under Alex Solis and made up 10 lengths in the final three furlongs to beat Piensa Sonando by a half-length.

Jockey Gary Stevens won two of the races on Hollywood Park's stakes tripleheader, and finished second in the Californian.

There was a stewards' inquiry into the Californian, but it didn't involve Kudos.

Western Pride, the 6-5 wagering favorite, was leading when he took up sharply between horses at the quarter pole under Pat Valenzuela. After viewing the race from three different angles, the stewards ruled the video did not establish responsibility for the incident and let the order of finish stand.

Valenzuela declined to comment after the race, but he still had a good day, riding five winners on the 10-race card.

Kudos covered 1 1-8 miles in 1:47.91 and paid $5.80, $3.40 and $4.60 at 9-5 odds. The 6-year-old is owned by A&M Records co-founder Jerry Moss and his wife and trained by Richard Mandella.

"Even though we were so far back, I thought I had a chance to pick them up," Solis said. "I waited a little bit longer than I usually do because I wanted to make sure they cooked themselves in front of me. It worked out that way. My horse was coming very strong and the others were getting a little tired."

Since returning from an injury-induced layoff earlier this year, Kudos had lost all three of his starts. He was second to Congaree in the San Pasqual Handicap, third to Milwaukee Brew in the Santa Anita Handicap, and third to Medaglia d'Oro in the Oaklawn Handicap.

Kudos is being pointed to the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 13, where he'll likely have a rematch with Milwaukee Brew.

"He was as good as he could be today. He looked good and comfortable," Mandella said. "Kudos falls back, but he's done that several times and been successful at it."

Piensa Sonando returned $4.80 and $5.20, while Reba's Gold was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third and paid $7.40 to show. Western Pride finished sixth among seven horses. Calkins Road was scratched.

Storming Home won the $350,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap by three-quarters of a length over Mister Acpen. He is 2-0 since making his U.S. debut by winning the Jim Murray Memorial Handicap last month.

Ridden by Stevens, Storming Home covered 1 1/4 miles on the turf in 2:00.66 and paid a record low of $2.60 to win, $2.20 and $2.10 as the 1-5 wagering favorite in the field of six. The previous lowest win price was $2.80 on John Henry in 1981 and Erin's Isle in '83.

Mister Acpen returned $4 and $2.10, while Cagney was another half-length back in third and paid $2.10 to show.

Trainer Neil Drysdale earned his fourth win in the race named for trainer Charlie Whittingham, who died in 1999. His other victories came in 1985, '88 and '00.

"Anytime Whittingham's name is brought up it means something to me," Drysdale said.

Stevens guided Santa Catarina to her first major victory in the $200,000 Hollywood Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. She beat Buffythecenterfold by four lengths.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Santa Catarina finished second in the Kentucky Oaks on May 2 and was third in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes two weeks later at Pimlico.

She finished in the money in seven of her eight career starts, but was seeking her first major stakes win for owners Bob and Beverly Lewis.

"She's just learning how to run right now," Baffert said. "She made a really long sustained drive, so maybe she'll learn to relax a little bit more in her races."

Santa Catarina ran 1 1-16 miles in 1:41.62 and paid $3.60, $2.40 and $2.10 as the 4-5 wagering favorite.

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Buffythecenterfold returned $3 and $2.20, while Princess V. paid $2.20 to show. Dash For Money, Cinema Paradisa and Ela Ela were scratched.